Can openers



' July 9, 1957 v c. L. PFLliGR CANOPENERS Filed Jan. 5, 1956 INVENTOR.

CHARLES L. PFLUGER} BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent CAN OPENERS Charles L. Pfluger, Orting, Wash, assignor of one-fourth to Mildred L. Peronto and one-fourth to James W. Peronto, Tacoma, Wash.

Application January 5, 1956, Serial No. 557,525

3 Claims. (Cl. 22052) This-invention relates to improvements in can openers and is particularly adapted for removing unwinding bands from cans.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a can opener that can be applied to the winding band that will maintain this band in alignment while removing the same from the can.

In order to carry out this object, the operator merely applies the device to the tip of the unwinding band, rotates a crank which unwinds the band and at the same time while holding the device it automatically engages the edges of the hand holding it in alignment by the pressure applied thereto by the hand of the operator.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an unwinding band can opener that can be adjusted to any type of can employing the principle of an unwinding band for opening the same.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a can having this new and improved can opener shown removing the unwinding band from the said can;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view, partly in cross-section, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the opener and the can including the unwinding band, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of this new and improved can opener;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the said opener being applied to a sardine can;

Figure 6 is another preferred form of embodiment of this new and improved can opener; and,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a can illustrating the tip of the unwinding band.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 designates a conventional type of can, having the usual unwinding band 11 associated therewith. The can opener in its preferred form consists of an elongated member 12, having an eye or bearing 13 on one of its ends and having its opposite end turned at right angles at 14, terminating in the transverse portion 15.

A second elongated member 16 is adapted to be slidably mounted and guided by thebearing member 17 to the transverse member of the device, at its one end, having an eye or bearing 18 on its opposite end in alignment with the bearing 13 of the member 12.

lournaled within the bearings 13 and 18 is a removable transverse shaft 19. The shaft 19 has a crank 20 on one of its ends and has a slot 21 formed throughout its length towards its opposite end. The slot 21 is adapted to receive the usual tip 11A of the unwinding band. The member 16 is maintained on the transverse portion 15 by any suitable means, as by the upset head 22.

A slightly modified form of embodiment is illustrated in Figure 6 wherein an elongated member 23 has a bearing 24 on one of its ends and a bearing 25 midway its length, the portion 26 forming a handle for the device.

Patented July 9, 1957 associated therewith and adapted to operate within the bearing 24. Wing bolt 29 is adapted to lock the bearing 24 in a predetermined position on the portion 28. A transverse shaft 30 is journaled within the bearing 25 and the outboard bearing 31 of the member 27 and has a crank 32 forming part thereof and a slot 33 for engaging the unwinding band.

In the use and operation of this invention, the tongue of the unwinding band 11 is inserted within the slot 21 of the shaft and the crank 20 is revolved rolling the band onto the shaft 19. At the same time this is done the operator holds the elongated members 12 and 16 in his hand, squeezing them slightly together so that their inner surfaces will guide the unwinding band as the same is being removed from the can. This maintains the band in alignment as the same is being rolled about the can.

The length of the shaft 19 is of such length to be applied to various types of cans, as for instance, in Figure 5 it is shown removing the top from a sardine can, the top of the can itself acting as an unwinding top or band.

Referring to Figure 6, in this particular modified form the space between the elongated body member 23 and the member 27 can be fixedly adjusted by the wing bolt 29 in the operation of the same.

' When the unwinding band or lid is completely removed from the can, the shaft 19 can be pulled out through the wound band ready for another operation.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous modifications and structural adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A can opener for containers having a sealing tape comprising a frame including a first elongated member having an opening formed in one end thereof, said member having its other end bent transversely thereto to provide a laterally projecting portion, a second elongated member having one of its ends slidably mounted on said projecting portion of said first elongated member, said second member having an opening in its other end aligned with said first opening, a shaft rotata'oly journaled in said openings, said shaft having an axially extending slit formed therein extending inwardly from an end thereof and terminating adjacent its other end, said slit being adapted to receive one end of said seal 'therethrough, and crank means connected with said other end of said shaft.

2. A can opener for containers having a sealing tape, said opener comprising an elongated member having a first bearing disposed intermediate its ends and a second bearing proximate one end thereof, the other end of said member comprising a handle, a second elongated member bent laterally intermediate its respective ends, one end of said second member being slidably mounted within said second bearing, the other end of said second member having an open third bearing aligned with said first bearing, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in said first and third bearings, said shaft having an axially extending split extending inwardly from an end thereof and terminating adjacent its other end, and crank means connected with said other end of said shaft.

3. A can opener as defined in claim 2, and means for holding said one end of said second member in fixed adjusted relation relative to said second bearing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,649,990 Lyle Aug. 25, 1953 2,738,099 Knutsen Mar. 13, 1956 2,741,394 Rath Apr. 10, 1956 

